Limits Of Acceptable Change Research Articles

Climbing route development affects cliff vascular plants more than subsequent climbing: A guide to evidence‐based conservation management to regulate climbing

Abstract Cliff ecosystems provide refuge to 35%–66% of the world's endemic plants. However, they face growing threats from sport climbing. Evidence suggests that unclimbed cliffs harbour approximately twice the plant richness compared with climbed cliffs, with increasing impact as climbing intensity increases. Unfortunately, it remains unknown whether the climbing impact on cliff vegetation originates from the development (opening) of climbing routes or from temporal changes resulting from subsequent climbing. We recorded cliff vascular plants and lichens at the protected natural area of El Potrero Chico (Mexico) before and after the development of new climbing routes. Subsequently, we re‐recorded the routes at sequential timepoints after 10, 20, and 30 ascents. Additionally, we examined whether the abundance of cliff vegetation influences the extent of climbing impact and whether the surroundings of the routes were also affected. We found that the opening of climbing routes exerted the strongest negative effects on cliff plants, reducing species richness by 38%, while subsequent ascents generated a minimal impact. Worryingly, route opening affected not only species richness in the route itself but also the surroundings of the routes. After 30 ascents, cliff plant abundance decreased by 60.6% within the bolted routes, whereas it decreased by 42.3% in the surroundings. However, this impact depended on the original cliff vegetation abundance. Lichen cover showed a gradual decrease, indicating that cliff‐dwelling lichens are affected not only by the opening of the route but also by subsequent ascents. Synthesis and applications: Given the almost non‐existent regulation of outdoor climbing activities in most countries, we urge the implementation of a conservation management protocol that defines clear strategies to regulate climbing activities and preserve pristine cliffs. On yet unclimbed cliffs with narrow endemic, rare, or threatened species, we propose banning the establishment of new climbing areas. On climbed cliffs lacking protected species, dynamic management actions should be implemented, such as setting a maximum number of routes that can be established and defining limits of acceptable change as climbing intensity increases. The proposed conservation management should help to halt the loss of unique cliff biodiversity and safeguard pristine cliff ecosystems.

The Tolerance and Limits of Acceptable Change in Heritage Buildings: The Case of Traditional Shophouses in Malaysia

The protection of heritage buildings is of utmost importance. In today's world, historic buildings face various threats that push them to the brink of extinction or marginalisation. The natural fatigue process of buildings, uncontrolled urbanisation and socio-technical change are among the main driving forces. Therefore, heritage buildings need to be constantly monitored and carefully conserved so that they can continue to be used and retain their dignity. It is thus important to understand the extent to which we can alter the significance of heritage buildings during their conservation. The beginnings of the conservation approach are associated with an attempt to reject any changes to the physical characteristics of heritage buildings. More recently, however, conservation practice has evolved into a process of managing changes. Only by understanding the limits of acceptable change to heritage and identifying heritage's tolerance of change can we find an appropriate way to manage change to heritage and preserve its cultural significance. A literature review and content analysis were conducted to gain insights into the concept of change in heritage management theories and norms. This search was continued to explore the limits of acceptable change and the tolerance of heritage buildings to change through authorised international and national policies. The case of shophouses in Malaysia is studied. The results show that conservation standards have relaxed their stance on the presence of change in heritage architecture. However, intellectual research on understanding the limits of acceptable change for the careful transformation of heritage buildings through the management of change is still relatively scarce.

Limit of Acceptable Change, Sustainability Tool in a Tourist Attraction in Peru

Human activity has negative impacts; methods and techniques have been developed to achieve harmony in the ecosystem. One method in tourism is the Limits of Acceptable Change (LAC). The objective was to determine the acceptable limits of change in the Huagapo cave using a quantitative-qualitative approach through literature review, interviews, surveys, and the application of this methodology. It was found that zone 1 (parking area) has the presence of invasive vegetation. Zones 3, 4, and 5 have a high degree of impact on endemic vegetation. Zone 6, a primitive trail, has a medium impact on the trail width, with invasive vegetation (eucalyptus, cypress) and invasive animals (dogs, pigs) threatening endemic flora and fauna (quinumal, amphibians), affecting biodiversity and ecological balance. It is concluded that zones 1, 3, 4, and 6, with high and medium impact, require efforts in preventing deterioration and maintaining the balance of the tourist attraction.

Tourism Carrying Capacity of Community Based Ecotourism: Case Study of Olo-Olo Mangrove Forest, and Eco-Park in Lobo, Batangas, Philippines

The purpose of this research is to analyze the Tourism Carrying Capacity of recreational activities in a community-based tourism destination and determine the sustainability of the ecotourism management in Olo-Olo Mangrove Forest and Eco Park in Lobo, Batangas, Philippines, by calculating the physical ecological and social carrying capacity of the recreational activities of the community-based ecotourism site. The method utilized in this research is mixed, measuring quantitative analysis of Carrying capacities using Boullon’s Model applied with the Limits of Acceptable Change (LAC) framework. A qualitative approach was used in determining the social and ecological carrying capacity and recorded preferences of the site manager and the visitors. The study reveals that the total physical carrying capacity may range from 79 to 2488 tourists per day; ecological- solid wastes capacity of 333 tourists daily; ecological- water availability capacity of 20 tourists daily; and social carrying capacity of 900 to 1200 tourists daily. The combined tourism carrying Capacity of OMFE shows that the mangrove park can accommodate a wide range of tourists per day depending on which LAC scenario. The current tourist influx in OMFE is only 26 visitors daily on average, which is far below the computed combined carrying capacity. It is still directed towards sustainable ecotourism. Keywords: Tourism Carrying Capacity, Mangrove Eco Park, combined carrying capacity, Community-Based Ecotourism

Community-Centered Sustainable Ecotourism Planning in the Bossou Forest Reserve, Guinea, West Africa

Forest reserves are spaces of conservation and are often spaces of ecotourism as well. Evidence suggests that local community participation in the conservation of the forest reserve space tends to break down under weak ecotourism sector management. The Bossou Forest Reserve (BFR) in Guinea, West Africa has deteriorated considerably due to the fragmentation of the reserve and the inexorable decline in Bossou chimpanzee populations since the 1970s. The situation is largely attributable to several complex and interrelated factors, including the lack of established processes to support meaningful community participation in conservation and ecotourism planning. Ecotourism planning, with the participation of local communities, is considered to strengthen the management of the BFR and conservation connectivity. This paper reports on an approach to sustainable ecotourism planning of the BFR using the Limits of Acceptable Change (LAC) framework to determine the drivers of change and livelihood concerns. Fieldwork undertook in 2019 entailed concept mapping activities which were followed by a participatory geographic information system (PGIS) approach to support community-scale ecotourism planning that considers the multiple needs of stakeholders. Data analysis resulted in a community-centered situational assessment and classification of opportunities, both of which inform ecotourism planning and social-ecological resilience. The study provides baseline data for developing a robust ecotourism management plan capable of coping with the changing internal and external stressors. PGIS-based ecotourism planning can support community priorities and is potentially applicable to other West African areas with similar ecological and livelihood settings.

Defining performance thresholds for effective management of biodiversity within protected areas.

Performance thresholds are an important tool for determining successful conservation outcomes. They provide an objective means of defining good ecological condition and have been endorsed as an essential part of best practice in protected area (PA) management within the International Union for the Conservation of Nature Green List of Protected and Conserved Areas Standard. With a growing number of PAs attaining Green List status globally, thresholds developed by PAs on the Green List present an excellent resource with which to identify the attributes of well-defined performance thresholds. We examined 349 thresholds associated with PAs on the Green List to determine whether they were specific and measurable (i.e., factors recognized as essential for setting well-defined targets). We assessed whether thresholds were defined quantitatively and whether definitions included ambiguous terms (e.g., stable numbers). We identified six different ways thresholds were expressed and found that many thresholds were expressed as management objectives, rather than ecological condition thresholds, although this trend improved over time. Approximately one-half of the performance thresholds lacked the necessary specificity to delineate successful outcomes. Our results enabled us to develop a checklist of information required to set robust performance thresholds. Recommendations include that thresholds should be quantitatively defined, including quantitative estimates of the limits of acceptable change (LAC) around the target condition. To ensure transparency, a rationale and associated evidence should be provided to support the threshold and the LAC. When accompanied by a rationale and quantitative estimate of the current condition of the value, unambiguously defined thresholds with a quantitative LAC provide an objective means of demonstrating that successful conservation outcomes have been achieved. These recommendations will help conservation managers apply the Green List Standard and improve the measurement of conservation outcomes more broadly.

The Doughnut Destination: applying Kate Raworth's Doughnut Economy perspective to rethink tourism destination management

PurposeIn this viewpoint paper, the authors explore and discuss how Kate Raworth's (2017) Doughnut Economy perspective and accompanying “Seven Ways to Think Like a 21st-Century Economist” can be applied to rethink the future of tourism destination management for the better.Design/methodology/approachThe authors take a “transferability” approach, being a process performed by the authors as readers of existing work noting its specifics in order to compare them to the specifics of an environment with which they are familiar. In this viewpoint paper, the authors apply the work of Raworth to the environment of tourism destination development.FindingsThe Doughnut Economy perspective and the accompanying “seven ways” help forward tourism destination management in the future, even more when it is interpreted and tailored to a tourism context and reconceptualized as the Doughnut Destination as presented in this paper.Originality/valueThe work of Kate Raworth has been gaining interest and support throughout academia, society and in various (economic) policy domains. Surprisingly, it has not been applied to the tourism context to its full extent, even though it offers much potential in recent discussions on overtourism, carrying capacity and limits of acceptable change as well as offering a possible framework to structure monitoring effects in the pursuit of developing smart tourism destinations.

Managing Tourism and Environment—Trail Erosion, Thresholds of Potential Concern and Limits of Acceptable Change

Natural area tourism may contribute to deterioration in biophysical environments important for sustainable conservation of biodiversity and/or historically significant sites. Levels of protection within the IUCN guidelines provide general descriptors of desirable outcomes, and the Limits of Acceptable Change (LAC) management tool has often been implicitly applied. This article presents an initial attempt to assess the value of Thresholds of Potential Concern (TPC) relative to LAC as management frameworks for protected areas, using the example of trail width as an indicator of visitor impacts on vegetation, soil, water and, potentially, visitor safety. Visitor preferences relating to trail width were incorporated when applying the TPC and LAC principles. Sections of three walking trails in a high-visitation national park near Sydney, Australia, were measured at ~10.7 m intervals: the mean trail widths were 1.6 m, 1.8 m and 2.14 m. Of the 115 recreationists surveyed, 16% of those having the greatest tolerance towards management interventions (‘Non-purist’ wilderness category) viewed a trail ≥ 2 m wide as acceptable, but 96% of ‘Purists’ nominated a maximum of ≤1.5 m. The TPC was found to provide a broad strategy for identification, assessment and grading of multiple biophysical thresholds within an ecological framework. Combined with stakeholder information, the TPC allows for timely, proactive and calibrated management responses to maintaining biophysical and social sustainability.

Limits of acceptable change for sustainable management of the Pelawan Biodiversity Park, Bangka Belitung Islands

Indonesia is a country of immense biodiversity, however the natural environment is under pressure because of competing economic needs of the large population. Limits of Acceptable Change is a management strategy which acknowledges that any use of an area brings environmental change and best outcomes are achieved if all stakeholders are involved in the process. LAC was applied to develop a management strategy for Pelawan Biodiversity Park, Bangka Belitung. This reserve existsfor the preservation of endemic flora and fauna and is also utilised by local communities so there exists the potential for conflict of interests. This research was conducted March - April 2021. Through direct observation and interviews with all stakeholders, the LAC process was used to identify the reserve’s environmental and cultural values, and the goals held by each of the stakeholders. The results obtained indicate that the primary values assigned to the park are culture and economy, ecology and conservation, education and research, as well as tourism and ecotourism. Some activities of the communities both within and in the surrounding area have direct negative impacts on the environment in the park, including horticulture, tin mining, palm oil, poaching, over-exploitation of pelawan mushroom and honey, as well as tourist activities. After analysing the potential zoning for all activities, three usage zones were proposed to maximise conservation and facilitate economic sustainability for local communities. Specific management strategies for each zone are proposed together with indicators and standards of environmental change. Practical next steps are proposed for community wide consultation and implementation of management practices.

Eco-hydrology as a driver for tidal restoration: Observations from a Ramsar wetland in eastern Australia.

Land reclamation projects and the installation of drainage infrastructure has impacted coastal wetlands worldwide. By altering water levels and inundation extent, these activities have changed the viable ecosystems onsite and resulted in the proliferation of freshwater species. As more than 50% of tidal wetlands have been degraded globally over the last 100 years, the importance of this issue is increasingly being recognised and tidal wetland restoration projects are underway worldwide. However, there are currently limited sites where large-scale reintroduction of tidal flushing has been implemented with the explicit aim to foster the growth of a threatened ecosystem. In this study, the tidal restoration of an internationally recognised Ramsar listed wetland in eastern Australia is described to highlight how coastal saltmarsh can be targeted by mimicking inundation depths and hydroperiod across the 410-ha site. Coastal saltmarsh is particularly important to this site as it is part of the east Australasian flyway for migratory birds and the minimum saltmarsh extent, as listed within the Ramsar’s limits of acceptable change, have been breached. To recreate coastal saltmarsh habitat onsite, water level and hydroperiod criteria were established based on similar vegetation patterns within the adjacent estuary. A calibrated 2D hydrodynamic model of the site was then used to test how the preferred inundation criteria could be applied to the largest possible restored wetland area. Once optimised, a synthetic tidal signal was implemented onsite via automated hydraulic controls. The onsite vegetation response over an 8-year period was assessed to highlight the ecosystem response to controlled tidal inundation and denoted substantial saltmarsh expansion during the period. The techniques applied onsite have successfully met the restoration targets and can be applied at similar sites worldwide, offsetting sea level rise impacts to natural inundation hydroperiod.

Insights from long-term shorebird monitoring for tracking change in ecological character of Australasian Ramsar sites

The Ramsar Convention is the centrepiece of international efforts for wetland conservation, aiming to maintain the ecological character of wetlands through holistic ecosystem management. Here, we review studies on shorebird populations at individual Australasian Ramsar sites and compare these against original listings under Criterion 6 to determine if there have been potential changes in ecological character. One to 12 migratory shorebird species have declined at four New Zealand and 18 Australian Ramsar sites over a 12 to 36-year period, resulting in 22 species (at 13 sites) no longer reaching Criterion 6 thresholds for Ramsar designation. In addition, 10 species at six Australian sites had exceeded the Limits of Acceptable Change. Despite these concerning results, there were remarkably few published site-based determinations of listed shorebird species' trends (and even fewer that were ≤5 years old). This is especially surprising since shorebird populations are regularly monitored at 27 out of 35 Australasian Ramsar sites (listed on the basis of one or more shorebird species). Thus, despite the volume of data available for analysis, long-term shorebird monitoring provides only limited insights about Ramsar ecological character. The value of these data would be greatly enhanced through complementary monitoring of other ecological characters at sites, particularly where shorebird populations provide early warning signs of potential deterioration. The main impediment to achieving a good understanding of how Ramsar sites are changing in Australasia appears to be a lack of analysis and centralised system for data and analytics, rather than a lack of monitoring data.

Outdoor recreation planning and management considering FROS and carrying capacities: a case study of forest wetland in Yeongam-gum, South Korea

Since demand for outdoor recreation in forests has been increasing, a structural planning framework for sustainable use while minimizing ecosystem degradation is needed. Utilizing the recreational opportunity spectrum (ROS) and carrying capacities (CC) have been long-standing tools in management outdoor recreation and tourism. Therefore, this study proposes using FROS (forest recreation outdoor system), LAC (limits of acceptable change), and CC for outdoor recreation in forest wetland in Youngam-gum, South Korea. An analysis of the spatial characteristics of the site—geological features, elevation, slope, viewshed, water system, forest age class, etc.—was carried out. Based on this analysis, an outdoor recreation planning and management framework was developed, including expert elicitation and a field survey of the site. This study found that (1) FROS classified the site as “rural developed” (zone 1), “rural natural” (zone 2), and “semi-primitive” (zone 3); (2) LAC considered spatial characteristics and tourism attractions network around the site by each zone; (3) and ecological CC (104.1–485.5 people per day), physical CC (130.9–445.1 people per day), and social CC (25 people for “PAOT,” or “persons at one time”) were proposed for sustainable management of the site. Compared to previous studies, this study has the novelty of suggesting an integrated outdoor recreation model for sustainable planning and management by introducing systematic zoning and coping with the changing environment. This result can be useful for policy-makers who are concerned with the outdoor recreation of forest wetland to conserve and utilize the site and to prioritize suitable sites depending on the determining variables used in this study.

International gestational age-specific centiles for blood pressure in pregnancy from the INTERGROWTH-21st Project in 8 countries: A longitudinal cohort study

Gestational hypertensive and acute hypotensive disorders are associated with maternal morbidity and mortality worldwide. However, physiological blood pressure changes in pregnancy are insufficiently defined. We describe blood pressure changes across healthy pregnancies from the International Fetal and Newborn Growth Consortium for the 21st Century (INTERGROWTH-21st) Fetal Growth Longitudinal Study (FGLS) to produce international, gestational age-specific, smoothed centiles (third, 10th, 50th, 90th, and 97th) for blood pressure. Secondary analysis of a prospective, longitudinal, observational cohort study (2009 to 2016) was conducted across 8 diverse urban areas in Brazil, China, India, Italy, Kenya, Oman, the United Kingdom, and the United States of America. We enrolled healthy women at low risk of pregnancy complications. We measured blood pressure using standardised methodology and validated equipment at enrolment at <14 weeks, then every 5 ± 1 weeks until delivery. We enrolled 4,607 (35%) women of 13,108 screened. The mean maternal age was 28·4 (standard deviation [SD] 3.9) years; 97% (4,204/4,321) of women were married or living with a partner, and 68% (2,955/4,321) were nulliparous. Their mean body mass index (BMI) was 23.3 (SD 3.0) kg/m2. Systolic blood pressure was lowest at 12 weeks: Median was 111.5 (95% CI 111.3 to 111.8) mmHg, rising to a median maximum of 119.6 (95% CI 118.9 to 120.3) mmHg at 40 weeks' gestation, a difference of 8.1 (95% CI 7.4 to 8.8) mmHg. Median diastolic blood pressure decreased from 12 weeks: 69.1 (95% CI 68.9 to 69.3) mmHg to a minimum of 68.5 (95% CI 68.3 to 68.7) mmHg at 19+5 weeks' gestation, a change of -0·6 (95% CI -0.8 to -0.4) mmHg. Diastolic blood pressure subsequently increased to a maximum of 76.3 (95% CI 75.9 to 76.8) mmHg at 40 weeks' gestation. Systolic blood pressure fell by >14 mmHg or diastolic blood pressure by >11 mmHg in fewer than 10% of women at any gestational age. Fewer than 10% of women increased their systolic blood pressure by >24 mmHg or diastolic blood pressure by >18 mmHg at any gestational age. The study's main limitations were the unavailability of prepregnancy blood pressure values and inability to explore circadian effects because time of day was not recorded for the blood pressure measurements. Our findings provide international, gestational age-specific centiles and limits of acceptable change to facilitate earlier recognition of deteriorating health in pregnant women. These centiles challenge the idea of a clinically significant midpregnancy drop in blood pressure.

No Limits of Acceptable Change: A Proposed Research Framework for Informing Visitor Use Management in the Context of Cultural Resources

Cultural resources are commonly defined as resources that provide material evidence of past human activities. These resources are unique, as they are both finite and non-renewable. This provides a challenge for traditional visitor use management since these resources have no limits of acceptable change. However, with nearly every national park in the US containing cultural resources, coupled with ever-growing visitation, it is essential that managers of parks and protected areas have the ability to make science-informed decisions about cultural resources in the context of visitor use management. We propose a framework that can help provide context and exploration for these challenges. Drawing on previous literature, this framework includes risk-based approaches to decision making about visitor use; visitor cognitions related to cultural resources; emotions, mood, and affect related to cultural resource experiences; creating and evaluating interpretive programs; deviant visitor behaviors related to cultural resources; and co-management.

Recreation as a Social-Ecological Complex Adaptive System

The environment and society are both the context for and product of human actions and interactions. Outdoor recreation is the primary interaction many people have with the environment and it is an interaction that greatly contributes to human well-being. To sustainably manage the social and ecological components of outdoor recreation, an integrative and dynamic systems perspective is needed. Analyses that link recreation management and recreational experiences to both social and ecological outcomes across multiple sales and over time are not developed. This article will outline how a number of fragmented recreation management frameworks such as the recreation experience model, beneficial outcomes, the recreation opportunity spectrum, limits of acceptable change, and constraints theory can be organized within a larger social-ecological framework. The outdoor recreation meta-framework presented here links structuration theory from the social sciences with theories of complex adaptive systems and hierarchical patch dynamics from ecology to understand the human and ecological drivers for and responses to outdoor recreation.

Response and Simulation of Vegetation in Desert Scenic Spot to Tourists’ Trampling Disturbance

A large number of tourists had a devastating effect to the scenic area. Shapotou and Huangshagudu scenic spots in Ningxia were selected as the research areas. The fait accompli method was used to investigate the response of footpath in the above scenic spots to tourists’ stampede interference. Three different angles and different vegetation types of quadrats were set up to simulate tourists’ stampede mode and observe the vegetation recovery after stampede. The results showed that: (1) The tourist trampling disturbance mainly were limited 0-4 meters distance from the tourist trails, but there was difference for different tourist trails. (2) The index of land cover impact ( ILCI ) of the investigating sections indicated the 1 meter distance from tourist trail is seriously disturbed; Because of the palisade on both sides of the plank road, the average value of ILCI in north of Shapotou (investigating section 4) is less than 44.9%.(3)With the increase of tourist activity,the coverage of vegetation decline, the height of plant reduce, the quantity and kinds decrease,soil crust fragmentation increase.(4)Because of different angle of sand dune, the impact of tourist activity to vegetation and soil is different.Vegetation and biological crust of sample C which is the biggest angle suffer from the devastation.(5)Based on limits of acceptable change ( LAC ) visitor questionnaires, the limit of acceptable change in ground coverage was 16.4%. The vegetation coverage should be below this level at desert scenic spots. It shows that there is natural incompatible relationship between tourist demand to the empty and desolate desert and desert ecological management. The results also indicated that the current tourism disturbance had some negative effect on the tourist experience and ecosystem.

Historic Urban Landscapes: A Review on Trends and Methodologies in the Urban Context of the 21st Century

This article makes a critical reflection, questioning the notion of historical urban landscapes as a conceptual paradigm used for the basis of urban conservation in the twenty-first century. The study begins with a brief summary of the origins and subsequent evolution of this concept, highlighting the two key reference milestones: the Vienna Memorandum (UNESCO, 2005) and the Paris Recommendation (UNESCO, 2011). Subsequently, the focus of attention will be on highlighting the problems and difficulties posed by the management and protection of historic urban landscapes today. In this sense, the focus of attention will be placed on the assumption that change is an inherent part of the urban condition, since there is no consensus on what the limits of acceptable change in historic urban landscapes should be. It also emphasizes three factors that make this more difficult: (1) the reminiscences of the doctrines of the Weberian administration in the current models of government; (2) the subjective nature of the systems of indicators applied to the scope of historic cities; and (3) the opportunism of tactical urbanism, which, despite its shortcomings, is becoming an outstanding alternative for the methodological development of the historic urban landscapes.

Limits of acceptable change as tool for tourism development sustainability in Pangandaran West Java

Pangandaran since 2006 has become a model of sustainable tourism development. A program aimed to empower local communities to prepare work plans and activities to enrich the various potential development of sustainable tourism. By empowering local community, business competition has led to the undesired development of the tourism sector. This becomes the concern of the negative impact of physical changes in the area. This study aims to identify and measure the acceptable changes (limits of acceptable change-LAC) of tourism development in Pangandaran to remain adaptable as a tourist attraction. This study considers how to determine acceptable levels of impact that occurs in the Pangandaran area. This method involves stakeholders in determining the values, issues, and concerns the acceptable levels of impact for this region. The result of acceptance rate then compared with the effects of the current state. Through review and analysis methods used in this study, the LAC situation in Pangandaran outlined. Results from this study are expected to identify indicators of sustainable development of tourism sector through LAC approach.

Límites en la capacidad de carga de visitantes de ecoturismo en Punta del Este, Isla Juventud (Cuba)

Esta investigación está encaminada a estudiar las posibilidades de capacidad de carga o los límites aceptables de cambio en la cantidad de visitantes que puede soportar una actividad ecoturística en una zona determinada, para contribuir a la conservación del medioambiente, mediante un desarrollo sostenible. En nuestro caso, el estudio se realizó en la zona sur de la Isla de la Juventud (Cuba); concretamente en la denominada Punta del Este. Para ello se utilizó una metodología basada en métodos descriptivos: analítico-sintético y lógico abstracto, así como mediante el análisis experimental para valorar la capacidad de carga mediante el método Cifuentes desarrollado en 1992 y mejorado en 1999. La mayor aportación de esta investigación ha sido la obtención de los datos sobre el mayor impacto de visitantes, o capacidad de carga que pueden soportar la zona en las caminatas ecoturísticas que el turismo nacional e internacional realiza por la zona, a fin de poder analizar las posibilidades económicas que este tipo de actividades pueden reportar a la zona, conservando su carácter de economía sostenible sin que se comprometa el medioambiente para las futuras generaciones, a fin de que puedan seguir disfrutando y admirando la belleza de los recursos naturales existentes.

Remaking Tourism Carrying Capacity Frameworks for Geoparks

The concept of geopark was first officially proposed by UNESCO in 1999. Since then, there is an increasing interest in how the management purpose of geoparks can be fulfilled. However, no tailor-made management framework for geoparks is available so far. Six existing tourism carrying capacity (TCC) frameworks for national parks, i.e. Recreation Opportunity Spectrum (ROS), Limits of Acceptable Change (LAC), Visitor Impact Management (VIM), Visitor Experience and Resource Protection (VERP), Visitor Activity Management Process (VAMP), and Tourism Optimization Management Model (TOMM) are reviewed. It is found that they are all developed to manage national parks in an environmentally sustainable way, but they commonly failed to equally address the interests of all stakeholders which makes the direct application of these framework in geoparks inappropriate. The concept of tourism carrying capacity provides benefits in terms of raising awareness on sustainable tourism in national parks and the six traditional tourism carrying capacity frameworks are imperative to be modified for use in geoparks. Therefore we proposed a modified tourism carrying capacity concept for use in geoparks and remodeled 3existing tourism carrying capacity frameworks for the sustainable tourism management in geoparks.